How will schools be able to go back in September? (Continued)

lulublue22 · 19-08-2020 12:30PM

SusanC10 wrote: »

Does the Dept say why ?
Our 5th Class daughter wants to wear one as do we. Our school has not mentioned Masks on Students one way or another. We believe it should be our choice for her to wear them.

No it is just stated under who should not wear face coverings.

lulublue22 · 19-08-2020 12:31PM

Queried wrote: »

Hey lulublue,

Was your training online? Still waiting to be given info on it by the school I work in and beginning to wonder when we're actually going to be receiving it. Is it a few days/hours? Just wondering what to expect ahead of going back next week. Would appreciate it if you could share your experience

Dep training is online - you will be able to access it on the site. It is broken into a few areas. ive just done primary school induction so far.

Queried · 19-08-2020 12:33PM

lulublue22 wrote: »

Dep training is online - you will be able to access it on the site. It is broken into a few areas. ive just done primary school induction so far.

Thanks lulu, going to have a look now.

BonsaiKitten · 19-08-2020 12:33PM

Queried wrote: »

Hey lulublue,

Was your training online? Still waiting to be given info on it by the school I work in and beginning to wonder when we're actually going to be receiving it. Is it a few days/hours? Just wondering what to expect ahead of going back next week. Would appreciate it if you could share your experience

I wouldn't expect to get a whole pile of information from it that you don't already know. I did it, it's a 30 min video on the Department website. Not very informative or useful imo.

iguana · 19-08-2020 12:33PM

Dravokivich wrote: »

Bit of a shame that you seem to be leaving out RTEs proactive efforts to add school programming with a rather short turnaround before the summer break.

Homeschool hub was good we had it on every day but it was only 20 minutes a day for each class grouping. Ray for 1st and 2nd, John for 3rd and 4th, Clíona for 5th and 6th. Nothing for JI and SI, nothing for secondary. My 7 year old happily watched Ray and John and sometimes watched Clíona but when she was doing maths or Irish it went way over his head. I'm sure that was the same for many kids his age, while older kids would have watched the classes for older age groups but Ray and sometimes John would have been too easy, so boring for them.

With the summer months, planning could have been done to use the children's RTE channels as a more full time schooling, RTE Junior for primary, TRTE for secondary. With at least an hour of classes for each class group. It would have kept children in touch with their curriculum and teachers could have been given the class schedule so they could tailor their contact with their classes around what they know would be on tv school for the week.

At the same time (and off topic for this thread) either mornings/day times RTE 1 or 2 should be being tailored around the social needs of the elderly. Not just daily mass but programmes like Telly Bingo could be extended to 90 minutes. Art class shows. Exercise classes aimed at the needs of elderly and infirm people. Etc.

There are a multitude of available options to make things work. To help the department connect with each other and provide a consistent approach to part-time schooling or entirely at home schooling. But it was just decided to take a completely half assed approach to sending kids back to school that isn't even remotely in our children's best interests.

lulublue22 · 19-08-2020 12:34PM

khalessi wrote: »

I took that to be a guideline from Dept and will be sending kids in with masks, ultimately it is up to the parents.

I think it’s up to each individual - I was just giving a reason why the school may have said no masks as the dep have said no masks.

Purplewaters · 19-08-2020 12:53PM

SusanC10 wrote: »

I am worried about this. Our daughter wants to wear a Mask as do we. Again, we would prefer this to be our choice and not the school's. She is used to it as we have vulnerable family members.

Why on earth would a school be stopping children wearing masks???? This baffles me.

Murple · 19-08-2020 12:56PM

SusanC10 wrote: »

Does the Dept say why ?
Our 5th Class daughter wants to wear one as do we. Our school has not mentioned Masks on Students one way or another. We believe it should be our choice for her to wear them.

It’s following the general health advice for mask wearing in this country which says that masks shouldn’t/ don’t need to be worn by those under 13. Other countries have different age levels, such as children under 5 or under 10 but it’s agreed worldwide that under 2s shouldn’t wear any face coverings.
It’s a bit odd that pupils of the same age won’t all be expected to wear a mask based on the fact that one is in 6th class of primary and the other is in 1st year of secondary.

BattleCorp · 19-08-2020 01:00PM

Purplewaters wrote: »

Why on earth would a school be stopping children wearing masks???? This baffles me.

I'll hazard a guess that the principal is an idiot.

Fair enough there is no legislative requirement for someone under 13 to wear a face covering. That doesn't mean that there is a ban on someone under 13 wearing a face covering.

I'd be looking for evidence from the principal as to the reasons why a child under 13 isn't allowed to wear a face mask. I'd specifically be looking to see their COVID-19 risk assessment.

SusanC10 · 19-08-2020 01:03PM

BattleCorp wrote: »

I'll hazard a guess that the principal is an idiot.

Fair enough there is no legislative requirement for someone under 13 to wear a face covering. That doesn't mean that there is a ban on someone under 13 wearing a face covering.

I'd be looking for evidence from the principal as to the reasons why a child under 13 isn't allowed to wear a face mask. I'd specifically be looking to see their COVID-19 risk assessment.

Can a Parent insist on a copy of the School's Covid Risk Assessment?

wirelessdude01 · 19-08-2020 01:05PM

BonsaiKitten wrote: »

I wouldn't expect to get a whole pile of information from it that you don't already know. I did it, it's a 30 min video on the Department website. Not very informative or useful imo.

34 minutes of nonsense.

BattleCorp · 19-08-2020 01:05PM

SusanC10 wrote: »

Can a Parent insist on a copy of the School's Covid Risk Assessment?

I don't know to be honest. You can always request it and the school has a choice........either they give it to you or they dont.

If they don't, are schools subject to the freedom of information act?

SusanC10 · 19-08-2020 01:06PM

BattleCorp wrote: »

I don't know to be honest. You can always request it and the school has a choice........either they give it to you or they dont.

If they don't, are schools subject to the freedom of information act?

Thank you. I just want to be prepared.

wirelessdude01 · 19-08-2020 01:08PM

Purplewaters wrote: »

Why on earth would a school be stopping children wearing masks???? This baffles me.

I've already made it clear to any parents that I've met that I'll encourage mask wearing in my class.

BattleCorp · 19-08-2020 01:09PM

SusanC10 wrote: »

Thank you. I just want to be prepared.

I've asked that question in the Legal Forum so we'll see what those guys and gals come back with.

kodaline78 · 19-08-2020 01:11PM

Hi I am a primary teacher in Galway.. Can anyone tell me if the Supplementary panel has cleared yet in Galway or Tuam Diocese? Thanks

wirelessdude01 · 19-08-2020 01:12PM

kodaline78 wrote: »

Hi I am a primary teacher in Galway.. Can anyone tell me if the Supplementary panel has cleared yet in Galway or Tuam Diocese? Thanks

Contact the diocesan office.

gabeeg · 19-08-2020 01:12PM

Storm Ellen arrives this evening. I encourage everyone to open the windows in their home and trying to imagine teaching a class.

wirelessdude01 · 19-08-2020 01:14PM

gabeeg wrote: »

Storm Ellen arrives this evening. I encourage everyone to open the windows in their home and trying to imagine teaching a class.

Nah bring their flat screen TV out to the gazebo and see if it is an alternative to the marquee!!

downthemiddle · 19-08-2020 01:14PM

gabeeg wrote: »

Storm Ellen arrives this evening. I encourage everyone to open the windows in their home and trying to imagine teaching a class.

Don’t forget to open the doors.

the corpo · 19-08-2020 01:15PM

My kids were due to start a Taekwando class in a local primary school hall next week. Got a note this morning saying it's been cancelled because the school isn't permitted under the new restrictions to have more than 6 indoors.....

Queried · 19-08-2020 01:18PM

the corpo wrote: »

My kids were due to start a Taekwando class in a local primary school hall next week. Got a note this morning saying it's been cancelled because the school isn't permitted under the new restrictions to have more than 6 indoors.....

You couldn't make this stuff up :pac:

BattleCorp · 19-08-2020 01:20PM

SusanC10 wrote: »

Thank you. I just want to be prepared.

This is the reply I got from someone in the legal forum regarding the FOI request.

Maybe not directly from the school, but I would assume the Department has a copy, and you could do a FOI request against them.

But you won't get it before the schools are back next week, they have up to a month or more to comply.

Sunday Sunday · 19-08-2020 01:20PM

gabeeg wrote: »

Storm Ellen arrives this evening. I encourage everyone to open the windows in their home and trying to imagine teaching a class.

How about an ounce of common sense, nothing to say you have to have windows and doors open all day every day. Surely educators are capable of knowing a simple thing about when it's appropriate to open a window :rolleyes:

Lillyfae · 19-08-2020 01:23PM

BattleCorp wrote: »

Fair enough there is no legislative requirement for someone under 13 to wear a face covering. That doesn't mean that there is a ban on someone under 13 wearing a face covering.

This is the thing. It’s just fearmongering. The reality of the situation is bad enough, there is no need whatsoever to exaggerate or embellish it.

Purplewaters · 19-08-2020 01:27PM

SusanC10 wrote: »

Can a Parent insist on a copy of the School's Covid Risk Assessment?

Schools are no happier with the risk level than parents. This principal making this rule is bizarre regarding masks. I would never refuse to let anyone wear a mask in a pandemic.

BattleCorp · 19-08-2020 01:33PM

Lillyfae wrote: »

This is the thing. It’s just fearmongering. The reality of the situation is bad enough, there is no need whatsoever to exaggerate or embellish it.

Sorry, who is exaggerating or embellishing it? I don't follow.

Lillyfae · 19-08-2020 01:35PM

BattleCorp wrote: »

Sorry, who is exaggerating or embellishing it? I don't follow.

The principal, or anyone else saying that masks aren’t allowed, when what’s in the guidelines is that they’re not mandatory. They’re not the same thing.

xhomelezz · 19-08-2020 01:40PM

Sunday Sunday wrote: »

How about an ounce of common sense, nothing to say you have to have windows and doors open all day every day. Surely educators are capable of knowing a simple thing about when it's appropriate to open a window :rolleyes:

Yeah like next summer maybe.. Air ventilation should be there all the time, not once a day

seamus · 19-08-2020 01:40PM

the corpo wrote: »

My kids were due to start a Taekwando class in a local primary school hall next week. Got a note this morning saying it's been cancelled because the school isn't permitted under the new restrictions to have more than 6 indoors.....

All after school activities have been effectively cancelled in most schools anyway, but this new "6 to a class" rule has effectively killed off any that were going ahead with strong controls in place.

They absolutely did not think this through.

How will schools be able to go back in September? (Continued)

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